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PRINTER FOR DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20. 1961 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR. h Afia 6- LEADS/175 ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1964 w. G. LEATHERS PRINTER FOR DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS l7 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Nov. 20, 1961 INVENTOR. WARD 6. 45,4 TAM-P5 United States Patent 3,146,700 PRINTER FOR DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS Ward G. Leathers, Massapequa, N.Y., assignor to The Teleregister Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 153,580 11 Claims. (Cl. 101-93) The present invention relates to a perpetual inventory system and more particularly to a printer for use in a bank to print a record of all changes made in customer accounts.

It is a conventional practice in banking institutions to supply each depositor with a bank book and to retain a corresponding book or other record sheet in the bank files. Each time a customer deposits or withdraws money an entry is made in the depositors book as well as on the corresponding bank record of the amount and the new balance. Also, any interest which has been earned is calculated at the end of the interest period and an entry of the amount and new total is made in the customers book and on the bank record. These entries may be written in the customers book and bank record by the bank teller, or the book and record may be inserted in a business machine which will calculate new totals and print the information on the record.

Data processing equipment is now available which together with a memory storage may be used to maintain a perpetual inventory of diiterent items, such as the customer accounts in a bank, and provides many advantages over previously used accounting. systems. For example, the data processing equipment can maintain a large number of accounts in a relatively small space, calculate interest, add or subtract deposits and withdrawals and produce a new balance at an extremely rapid rate without errors, adapt a number of branch banks to be serviced from one source and provide any information for the entire banking operation almost instantly. However, the customer has become accustomed to having a book in which all transactions are recorded as a receipt, and to meet this customer requirement the data processing system must be capable of supplying the depositor with a printed record of his account after each transaction.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved printer adapted to be operated automatically by electric signals from a source, such as a data processing unit, located remotely from the printer.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated for printing on a bank book all amounts deposited and withdrawn and interest accumulated as well as the new total of any selected one of a plurality of bank accounts stored in the memory of a data processing unit.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated which is adapted to print the same indicia on the flat surface of a bank book and a continuous record tape located at different places therein.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated which is adapted to position a particular line of a record sheet at a printing station and automatically ad vance the record sheet one line after each printing operation.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated in which a continuous record tape is moved from a station where it can be observed to a printing station immediately preceding a printing operation and then back to the first station immediately after printing.

Another object is to provide a printer with type bars of improved construction to adapt them to be moved relative to each other and locked in adjusted position for a printing operation.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated in which a plurality of type bars are simultaneously moved to adjusted position by the same driving element.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated in which a plurality of type bars are released simultaneously after each printing operation has been completed.

Another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated in which all of the type bars except those for printing a balance are released by operation of the printer and the balance type bars are released in response to a signal independently of the other bars.

Another object is to provide an interlocking arrangement for preventing a printing operation until the type bars have been adjusted and a record sheet is properly positioned in the printer and preventing adjustment of type bars during a printing operation.

Still another object is to provide a printer of the type indicated which is of relatively simple and compact construction, operable at a relatively high speed and one which is reliable in operation.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an accounting system incorporating the novel features of the present invention and showing the combined keyboard and printer unit used by each teller in a bank and its connection with a data processing unit;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of one side of the printer and showing the driving mechanisms for operating different elements;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine from the same side illustrated in FIGURE 2 and showing the form of the type bars and their relationship to the book and tape to be printed at opposite sides thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the printer;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the printer showing the different groups of type bars for printing different items of information;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional plan view showing the driving mechanism for the printer;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view through the selection and print shafts to show the magnetic operator for one of the clutches;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view to show the interlock bar between the clutches for the selection and print shafts to prevent operation of either one of the shafts when the other is operating;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of a shaft positioning mechanism to insure release of the clutch;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view showing switch means operated by each shaft at the completion of one revolution;

b FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of one of the print ars;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the operating means for adjusting the type bars to particular positions for a printing operation;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 12 and showing the type bars moved to a first position against a stop;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 showing the type bars moved to adjusted position;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 14 showsnee /o ing the manner in which the pivoted control lever for each bar is rocked from a driving to a locking position;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the gearing for manually adjusting the plurality of type bars of one group to indicate a particular date;

FIGURE 17 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1717 of FIGURE 13 to show the electric switch plate between each adjacent pair of type bars and the brushes on adjacent bars engaging the contacts on opposite sides of the switch plate;

FIGURE 18 is a sectional plan view taken on line 18-18 of FIGURE 13 to show the gear mounted on each control lever for transmitting motion of a drive shaft to a type bar;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken on line 19--19 of FIGURE 13 to show the meshing engagement of the gear on the control lever with the rack teeth on the type bar in end elevation;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of the carriage for mounting a bank book to be printed;

FIGURE 21 is a plan view of the carriage showing the manually operable latching means for releasing the carriage for movement in the printer;

FIGURE 22 is a side elevational view of the carriage illustrated in FIGURE 21 and showing the latch plate for releasing the pawls from engagement with the ratchet teeth on the carriage;

FIGURE 23 is an end view of the carriage and showing the depending side rails of the carriage mounted to slide in grooved tracks in the printer frame;

FIGURE 24 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2424 of FIGURE 21 to show the rack on one of the depending rails of the carriage and engaged by teeth on a spring actuated drum to move the carriage forwardly;

FIGURE 25 is a side elevational view of a portion of the carriage and showing the offset pawls operated successively by cams on the bail shaft for advancing the carriage one line after each printing operation;

FIGURE 26 is a longitudinal sectional view through the printing station to show the mechanism for operating the lower platen to print on the bank book;

FIGURE 27 is a side elevational view to show the reciprocating frame at the printing station for operating the upper platen to print on the record proof tape;

FIGURE 28 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the feed mechanism for operating the record proof tape;

FIGURE 29 is a detail view of the gainer mechanism for moving the proof tape one line after each printing operation;

FIGURE 30 is a side elevational view of the bail operating mechanisms;

FIGURE 31 is a view similar to FIGURE 30 showing the relationship of the parts when the balance bail has been operated;

FIGURE 32 is a plan view showing the construction of the combined general and balance bails;

FIGURE 33 is a perspective view showing the manner of mounting a single printing ribbon for printing both the bank book and proof tape;

FIGURE 34 is a plan view of the lower ribbon reel and ratchet drive therefor;

FIGURE 35 is a plan view of the upper ribbon reel and drive therefor;

FIGURE 36 is a timing chart showing the time relation of the elements operated by the selection shaft; and

FIGURE 37 is a timing chart showing the time relation of the elements operated by the print shaft.

System and Printer in General In general, the system comprises a unit, as shown in FIGURE 1, having a key set illustrated as a keyboard 3 and printer 4 arranged in side by side relation. While the system and printer of the present invention may have other applications for keeping a perpetual inventory of a number of items, it is particularly adapted for use in a bank for processing the accounts of all of its customers. When the system is to be used in a bank, a unit 2 is provided for each teller in a particular bank building, or in a plurality of banking operations located in separate buildings. The keyboard 3 of each unit 2 is connected by a cable 5 to a remotely located data processing unit 6 and the data processing unit, in turn, is connected to the printer 4 by a cable 7. For example, the data processing unit 6 may be located in the same building with a plurality of teller units 4 or may serve teller units 2 in a plurality of branch banks in the same city or state, or even serve units in different states.

The data processing unit 6 may be of any suitable kind having a memory storage either in the form of a magnetic drum or magnetic tape for storing information. The memory storage may be so arranged as to maintain a perpetual inventory of different items in a readily available manner, such as all of the customer accounts of a central bank and all of its branches. The data processing unit 6 is adapted to receive and transmit information, add to and subtract from a previous balance and indicate a new balance all in the form of coded electric signals. In a savings bank operation the data processing unit 6 adds new deposits and interest to or subtracts withdrawals from the balance as instructed by a teller on the keyboard 3 of his unit 2, and then prints the amount deposited or withdrawn and the new balance in the customers bank book and also on a record tape in the printer.

More specifically when a customer requests a particular transaction he delivers his bank book Bk to the teller. The teller may request information, such as the status of the account, by punching the particular account number on keys A of the keyboard 3 and depressing a button B which transmits signals through cable 5 to the data processing unit 6. Button B instructs the data processing unit 6 to indicate the status of the particular account indicated by the number punched on the keypunches 3. In accordance with instructions, data processing unit 6 then scans the memory to determine the balance in the particular account and transmits the information by signals through the cable 7 to the printer 4. The printer 4 utilizes the signals to print the information on a record tape Tp where it can be observed by the teller. The teller then compares the balance on the record tape T with the balance indicated on the bank book Bk. If the two balances tally, the teller then inserts the book Bk in the printer and initiates the particular transaction requested by the customer.

For example, if money is to be deposited, the amount is punched on the keys A and a button C pressed requesting that the amount be deposited to the particular account. The information is transmitted through the cable 5 which instructs the data processing unit 6 to add the amount to the particular account. The data processing unit 6 then adds the amount and transmits a coded signal of the amount back through cable 7 to printer 4 and the amount deposited as set on the keys A and new balance are printed simultaneously on the bank book Bk and proof tape Tp. Interest is computed automatically at the end of each interest period, added to the balance and the information stored in the memory of the data processing unit 6 for subsequent printing in the customers bank book Bk. If interest has not been credited in bank book Bk a light L will come on when the account is queried. Thus, the balance will be larger than that indicated in the book by the amount of the interest. To add the interest in the customers book an interest button E is depressed which operates to print the amount of interest and thereafter print the new balance. As the interest call is not preceded by any signal to clear the balance, the balance is maintained for updating the customers bank book with accrued interest. When desired, a sub total only is printed by depressing button D. Similarly, a button F is provided for withdrawals which operates in the same way as deposits. Other buttons are provided for other purposes and for use in other perpetual inventory systems. For example, a button G may be provided to initiate operation, H to print only, I to correct, I for proof and K to clear the particular unit, among others. In addition, knobs are provided in the normally closed section 8 of the keyboard 3 which may be set by a supervisor to indicate a particular branch and a particular teller. After this information has been set the section 8 is closed and locked.

The printer 4, as shown in FIGURES l to 6, comprises a frame 10 having spaced side plates 11 and 12, see FIG- URES 5 and 6. A motor 13 is mounted between the side plates 11 and 12 of frame 10 and is initiated by a signal from the data processing unit 6. Motor 13 is connected through driving mechanism 14, later to be described in detail, to drive a selection shaft 15 and print shaft 16 alternately in succession. A series of groups of type bars 17 to 23, see FIGURE 5, are provided which extend longitudinally of the machine above the transverse selection and print shafts 15 and 16. Each of the groups 17 to 23 of type bar are adapted to print particular information. For example, the type bars of group 17 are manually set to print a particular date and the remaining groups are automatically set by signals from the data processing unit 6. In the illustrated embodiment, group 18 is adapted to print withdrawals, group 19 deposits, group 20 interest, group 21 a balance, group 22 the teller number and group 23 the account number, but in other systems a different arrangement of type bars might be used. The selector shaft 15 operates through gearing to move the individual type bars of all of the groups 17 to 23 to adjusted positions in accordance with instructions from the data processing unit 6 and each type bar has brushes successively engaging contacts of a selective switch for controlling the position of adjustment of the bar.

Before a printing operation is initiated the customers bank book Bk is placed on a carriage 25, see FIGURE 1, and moved manually by the teller to position the next free line of the book in position to be printed, as shown by the indicator 26 at the side of the carriage.

After the type bars have been moved to adjusted position by the selection shaft 15, this shaft is disconnected and the print shaft 16 operated to print the information as instructed by the teller. The arrangement is such that each type bar has corresponding type characters at its opposite upper and lower edges and the bars are curved so that the type characters will print through a ribbon 33 onto the record tape Tp and bank book Bk. The tape extends around a cylindrical platen 27, see FIGURES 2 and 4, and the platen is moved toward the type bars to make the impression.

The tape is printed at the bottom of the platen 27 so that the information cannot be observed by the teller. To make the information available to the teller, paper driving mechanisms 28 and 29, see FIGURES 2, 3 and 28, are provided which move the tape from a location under the platen 27 to a location at the top of the platen. The driving mechanism 28 controls the motion of tape Tp in both directions to and from a printing position and the driving mechanism 29 moves the tape to take up slack between the drive 28 and a take up reel to properly position printed indicia in the observation window where it may be observed by the teller. A gainer mechanism 30 is provided which cooperates with the driving mechanism 28 to move the tape back a distance less than it is advanced by an amount equal to one space.

The print shaft 16 oscillates a bail shaft 31, see FIG- URES 3 and 6, adjacent the end of its cycle which operates through suitable linkage to operate a bail 32 which unlocks the print bars from their adjusted position and connects them for operation by the selection shaft for the next transaction. The bail shaft 31 also operates through other mechanism to reset various elements.

6 A single ribbon 33 serves to print on both the bank book and record tape and a driving mechanism 34 operated by the bail shaft 31 advances the ribbon after each printing operation.

Driving Mechanism The driving mechanism 14, shown in detail in FIGURE 6, comprises the electric motor 13 mounted between the side plates 11 and 12 of the frame 10 and constituting the prime mover for the entire printer. One end of the motor shaft 36 projects beyond the side plate 11 and mounts a driving pulley 37. The opposite extended end of the motor shaft 36 mounts a fan 33 for circulating air through openings 39 and 40 in the side frames 11 and 12 to cool the motor. In addition to the motor 13, the driving mechanism 14 includes a driven shaft 41, a countershaft 41a, the selection and print shafts 15 and 16 and ball shaft 31.

The driven shaft 41 is mounted in suitable bearings in the side plates 11 and 12 of the frame 11 and mounts a pulley 43 on its projected end in alignment with the driving pulley 37 on motor 13. Pulleys 37 and 43 are shown connected by a belt 44. Driven shaft 41 also mounts a spur gear 45 for meshing engagement with a spur gear 45a on shaft 41a. Shaft 41a, in turn, mounts a spur gear 45b which meshes with the spur gear 49 on selection shaft 15. Motor 13 rotates continuously when once initiated and operating through the driving pulley 37, belt 44 and driven pulley 43 continuously rotates the idler shaft 41. Selection shaft 15 also is mounted to rotate in suitable bearings in side plates 11 and 12 of the frame and its operation is controlled by a clutch 42. Clutch 42 has separate sleeves 46 and 47 mounted on shaft 15 in end to end relationship and sleeve 47 is fast on the shaft. A spring 48 has one end connected to sleeve 47 and its opposite end is adapted to wrap around the other sleeve 46 to connect the sleeves to each other for rotation as a unit. Sleeve 46 fixedly mounts spur gear 49 in meshing engagement with the spur gear 45b on the countershaft shaft 41a. Thus, when the spring 48 is released, it automatically wraps around the sleeve 46 to drive the selection shaft 15 from the motor 13, but when the free end of the spring is held to uncoil the spring, the sleeve 46 rotates freely relative to the sleeve 47.

The print shaft 16 is similar to the selection shaft 15 and has a similar clutch with a driving sleeve 52, a driven sleeve 53 fast on the print shaft and a spring clutch element 54. The driving sleeve 52 has a spur gear 55 in meshing engagement with the spur gear 49 of the clutch 46 for the selection shaft 15, so that the driving sleeve is continuously rotated. When the spring 54 is released, it connects the driving sleeve 52 and driven sleeve 53 for rotation as a unit to drive the print shaft 16, and when the spring is uncoiled it disconnects the sleeve of the clutch.

Both of the clutch controls are identical but arranged in reverse order. One of the clutch controls 58 is illustrated in detail in FIGURE 7 as comprising an arm 59 mounted to rock on a base 613 and having an upper end underlying a laterally projecting end 61 of the spring 48 of clutch 42 surrounding its driving sleeve 46, for example. The arm 55 is rocked to a clutch releasing position by a spring 62 acting between a pin projecting from the arm and a lug projecting from the base 60. Arm 59 is rocked to a clutch engaging position, in which the spring is released, as illustrated by dotted lines in FIGURE 7, by a solenoid 63 mounted on the base 60. When the arm 59 is rocked to spring releasing position by the solenoid 63 against the action of the spring 62, the spring clutch element 43 operates to connect the driving sleeve 46 with the driven sleeve 47 and rotate the selection shaft 15. The clutch 51 for print shaft 16 is operated in the same way, and for purposes of description, the control arm and solenoid for the clutch spring 54 is identified 

1. IN A PRINTER FOR PRINTING DIGITAL INFORMATION IN DIFFERENT COLUMNS ON BOTH A FLAT RECORD SHEET AND A CONTINUOUS PROOF TAPE IN WHICH A TYPE ELEMENT IS PROVIDED FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT COLUMNS TO BE PRINTED, SELECTION MEANS FOR MOVING EACH TYPE ELEMENT RELATIVE TO A PRINTING STATION, AND PLATENS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TYPE ELEMENTS, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID ELEMENTS OF TYPE ELEMENTS HAVING A SECTION WITH TYPE CHARACTERS FORMED AS A RIGID FIXED PART THEREOF AND PROJECTING THEREFROM AT OPPOSITE SIDES, A SECTION WITH RACK TEETH AND A SECTION WITH DETENT NOTCHES, SAID SELECTION MEANS INCLUDING A SPUR GEAR FOR MESHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACK TEETH ON ONE SECTION AND A DETENT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DETENT NOTCHES ON ANOTHER SECTION, A STATIONARY STOP ENGAGED BY SAID TYPE ELEMENTS TO LIMIT MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION, AND A SLIP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RACK TEETH AND SPUR GEAR TO PERMIT RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION AND PROVIDE A DRIVING CONNECTION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. 